Leahy calls for Champlain Canal to close

N.Y. authorities say canal will stay open

Sen. Patrick Leahy wants part of the Champlain Canal closed to keep out an invasive species that scientists think could impact part of the food chain and become a nuisance for anglers.

The New York Canal Corporation shot down the idea, saying that closing the Champlain Canal would hurt businesses and block recreational vessels, also noting a hydroelectric facility would have to shut down in Whitehall.

"The Canal Corporation wants to assure travelers, canal-related businesses and local residents that there is no plan to shut down the Champlain Canal," said Canal Corporation Director of Public Affairs Dan Weiller.

But Leahy said the risk of what spiny water flea can do to Lake Champlain is serious enough to warrant a closure.

"And so the cost of stopping it as opposed to the cost of closing one portion of one canal -- I don't think they even compare," said Leahy.

The dean of UVM's Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, Mary Watzin, said based on data from other lakes where the tiny organism has invaded, part of Lake Champlain's food chain could be affected.

"It's a predacious little critter. It will eat other zooplanktors that are an important part of the food web for fishes in the lakes," said Watzin.

It noted the most effective ways of keeping spiny water flea out of Lake Champlain are not "technically feasible in a rapid time frame."

The task force notes that closing three of the locks in the Champlain Canal, or installing a hydrologic barrier and building a boat lift would be the most effective ways of trying to keep spiny water flea out of the lake.

But it also notes that a barrier "will require substantial design, development, engineering and financing that cannot happen quickly," and that the New York State Canal Corporation is required by law to keep the canal open.

Leahy said he's budgeted money over the years to help find ways to prevent invasive species from getting in through the Champlain Canal, which he says has been a major inroad for invasive species coming into Lake Champlain.

"And it really ticks me off. This money has gone unspent for years. Or the New York Canal Corporation has shown no sustained interest," Leahy said. "I mean, how many species have to come in before they do something?"